Green smoothies

Simple Green Smoothies is issuing a deliciously healthful challenge: Do you think you can drink one green smoothie a day for 30 days? If so, your body will thank you. Join the challenge by going over to Simple Green Smoothies; sign up and get weekly emails with shopping lists, recipes, and tips. They’ll prove that green smoothies are super fast to make and also taste amazing. Here’s a sample — a kale smoothie that features hydrating coconut water, cucumber, and pineapple. The “bang” part comes from orange and lemon. Recipe and photo contributed by Simple Green Smoothies. more→

I used forelle pears for this smoothie, as they are cute and adorable and bite-size. Okay fine, not only because of that, also they are quite sweet and have a bit of a cinnamon spice flavor (making them perfect for kid-friendly snacks or smoothies). This variety is only available from about September until December, so use another kind of nicely ripe yellow pear at other times or if unavailable. I call this smoothie my winter blend; because of the pear variety and also because it’s not a freezing cold drink. If you want to make it colder, go ahead and add a few ice cubes. This makes 1 large or 2 moderate smoothies. Recipe and photos contributed by Sophia Zergiotis ofLove and Lentils.more→

I was a huge fan of milkshakes growing up (who wasn’t?). My all-time favorite ice cream flavor has always been mint chocolate chip, and today, it’s my son’s favorite as well. I thought of combining these two delicious childhood favorites into one leaner, greener dairy-free drink. The beautiful green color comes from healthy baby spinach. The flavor has the perfect amount of mint, and you can top your milkshake with chocolate chips like I did, or cacao nibs for a bittersweet flavor. This makes 1 large or 2 smaller servings. Recipe and photos contributed by Sophia Zergiotis of Love and Lentils.

Combining blueberries, raspberries or strawberries, and greens results in a burgundy beverage that’s as tasty is it is pretty. If you’re not using anything frozen in this, you may want to serve over a couple of ice cubes. Adapted from Wild About Greens.more→

Here’s a pleasing combination for a green smoothie — kale and pineapple, with the added cleansing benefit of cucumber. Prepare to be refreshed and hydrated! This makes about two 12-ounce servings. Photos by Hannah Kaminsky.more→